SOLANUMS Solanum spp.
Solanaceae
Solanums comprise a very important group of medicinal plants having multifarious uses.
These plants belong to the family Solanaceae and genus Solanum. A number of species are
reported to be medicinal which are briefly described below.
1. S. anguivi Lam. syn. S. indicum auct. non Linn.
Eng: Poison berry; San: Brhati, Simhi; Hin: Barhauta, Birhatta; Mal: Puthirichunda,
Cheruchunda; Tam: Karimulli, Puthirichundai; Kan: Ramagulla; Tel: Cittimulaga,
Tellamulaka
It is found throughout the tropics, in plains and at low elevations. It is much branched,
very prickly undershrub, 0.3-1.5m in height. Leaves are simple, large, ovate, subentire,
sinuate or lobed. Flowers are blue in extra-axillary cymes having stellately hairy and prickly
peduncles. Fruits are globose berries, reddish or dark yellow with smooth or minutely pitted
seeds. Its roots are useful in vitiated conditions of vata and kapha, odontalgia, dyspepsia,
flatulence, colic, verminosis, diarrhoea, pruritus, leprosy, skin diseases, strangury, cough,
asthma, bronchitis, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, fever, cardiac disorders and vomiting.
Roots bitter, acrid, astringent, thermogenic, anodyne, digestive, carminative, anthelmintic,
stomachic, constipating, resolvent, demulcent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, aphrodisiac,
emmenagogue, febrifuge and cardiotonic.
2. S. dulcamara Linn.
Eng: Bittersweet, Bitter night shade; San: Kakmachi; Pun: Rubabarik
It is found in tropical situations in India and Sikkim. The plant is rich in alkaloidal
glycosides like solamarine, tomatidenol, solasodine and soladulcine. The berry and twig are
alterative, antisyphilitic, diaphoretic, resolvent, narcotic, diuretic, antirheumatic and used in
liver disorders and psoriasis.
3. S. erianthum D. Don, syn. S. verbascifolium auct. non Linn.
San: Vidari; Hin: Asheta; Mal: Malachunda; Tam: Malaichundai, Anaisundaikkai
Pun: Kalamena; Tel: Rasagadi
The plant is distributed over the tropical and subtropical zones of India. The plant
contains alkaloids and steroidal sapogenins. Leaves and fruits contain solasodine,
solasodiene, solafloridine, diosgenin, vespertilin and pregnenolone. The plant is CNS
depressant, antiinflammatory and useful in burns.
4. S. melongena Linn.
Eng: Brinjal, Egg plant; San: Varttaki; Hin: Bengan, Badanjan; Mal: Vazhuthina
Tam: Kattirikkai; Kan: Badanekaya, Doddabadane; Tel: Vankaya, Niruvanga
It is mainly cultivated as a vegetable throughout the tropics and subtropics. It is an
erect or suffrutescent, herbaceous, armed or unarmed perennial shrub. Leaves are simple,
large, entire and lobed. Flowers are blue, in clusters of 2-5. Fruits are large, white, yellow or
dark purple berries of different shapes capped with thick persistent calyx. Seeds are many,
yellow or cream and discoid. The roots, leaves and unripe fruits are useful in cholera,
bronchitis, asthma, odontalgia and fever. The roots are laxative, analgesic and cardiotonic.
Leaves are sialagogue, narcotic and antiherpetic. The unripe fruits are bitter, acrid, sweet,
aphrodisiac, cardiotonic and haematinic.
5. S. melongena var. incanum (Linn.) Prain syn. S. incanum Linn., S.
coagulens Forsk.
San: Brihati; Hin: Baigan; Mal: Cheruvazhuthina
It is a herbaceous prickly plant found in warm humid tropics. It is grown almost
throughout the year in the plains and during summer on the hills. It grows 0.6-2m in height.
Leaves are simple, alternate lobed. Flowers are blue or white, 5 lobed, calyx with spines.
Fruits are ellipsoid berries. The plant is a constituent of the dasamoola which helps to
overcome vitiated tridoshas and cures dyspepsia, fever, respiratory and cardiac disorders,